Game Plan

Even though I have tried and failed multiple times I still learned from every single one of them. Every failure I have learned something from to add to the list of things I need to consider for next time. As well as note what works.

Kaiser (who I have no attachment to other then that they are my health care provider) has a great program that fits what I need most. A support group who understands and is experiencing the same battle I am. I have done their program once before and I made it through the 6 weeks a lot easier then I thought I would. It wasn't until after when my dog ate a Tylenol product that caused her to be hospitalized for 3 days and cost me $3,000 that I fell of the ban wagon. I wish I could find someone to go through this with me so I have that same type of support I had then. What I learned is that I don't handle stress and anxiety well and that smoking is a big part of the way I deal with it. Anxiety and stress are going to be the hardest part for me.

What am I going to do about it? Well as I said for now I am going to get some anxiety medication that doesn't leave me useless at work and doesn't require me to take every day. Lots of hot baths after long days, soothing hot teas (thankfully winter is almost here). I have considered trying meditation which I will look into if the need arises.

The other thing I learned the last time I tried the classes was the wonderful idea of a quit kit. It really helps. I put a number of things that help distract me in it. Its the things that work for me.

Quit Kit:

• coffee stir straws cut in 1/2 (these I use to suck on, chew on, and play with and are a gold mine find)
• worry stone (flat smooth stone to fiddle with)
• hard candy
• gum
• a list of all the reasons I am quiting and a little pep talk for myself when I feel like I will cave.
•  small note pad and pen (along the same lines as this blog a way to get issues out of my head and help me work through them)

Next is that I have/need to remove all remnants of being a smoker from my home and car. I need to still make an appointment with my detailer to have my vehicle cleaned and fogged, but that will need to wait until next week after pay day. I will also not be able to handle hanging out with smokers which will be hard since I have a few really good friends that are smokers, we have already talked about it and they understand so I don't have to worry about them thinking I don't like them anymore. This is one of those things that really suck but is necessary.

Ok the one I don't like to admit. I have been fairly thin my entire life. When I managed to quit for that 8 month stint I gained about 20lbs. I was horrified. Though I don't like to admit it I am vain enough that this is an issue now, with me quitting I dread putting on weight. When I gained the weight last time and then had to face the reality that it wasn't just going to miraculously go away I started exercising and promptly discovered that I have weak ankles, I managed to sprain both my ankles after a week, my cardio was running in place and apparently my ankles didn't like that. I am going to give myself a few weeks but I plan to hit the gym early on and get a personal trainer who can help me work around this issue.

The second most problematic issue is that I am a fairly heavy drinker, most nights I have a glass of wine when I get home. More often then I should that ends up being more like 3. Alcohol and smoking seem to go hand in hand. Not sure why but maybe that's why there are so many people who only smoke when they drink. So no more alcohol for me. A friend who has been smoke free for 6 years now warned me that it could be a good year before I can touch it again, or go to a bar or party. I will need to plan ahead for the holiday season and more or less become a hermit. That is going to suck.

I think I have prepared for the big hitters. Stress/anxiety, alcohol, weight, being around smokers. I am sure there will be some surprises but at least I can eliminate these ones.